ENDURANCE athlete Stuart Westwood is flexing his muscles for a superhuman challenge - the half Ironman triathlon world championships in the United States.

ENDURANCE athlete Stuart Westwood is flexing his muscles for a superhuman challenge - the half Ironman triathlon world championships in the United States.

Stuart will be attempting to swim 1.2 miles, cycle 56 miles and then run a 13-mile half marathon against 1,500 competitors from across the globe.

Before then tough guy Stuart, a member of the Birmingham Running and Triathlon Club, will be putting himself to an even sterner test, completing the full Ironman race in Zurich, Switzerland, on June 24.

The half Ironman is gruelling enough but the full Ironman is a daunting 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile cycle ride and a full marathon of 26 miles, 385 yards.

Stuart, aged 27, from Halesowen, who is a learning services co-ordinator with Ernst and Young in Birmingham, said he had only been doing Ironman challenges for just under a year.

"It's going to be a hell of a challenge in both events but I am really looking forward to it," he said.

"I shall be aiming to finish in the top three in the world championships in Clearwater, Florida, on November 10.

"I don't know how I'll get on in the full Ironman in Zurich."

Stuart, who is single, trains six days a week.

He qualified for this year's world championship by finishing tenth in his 25-29 age group at a qualifying event in Orlando in May with a time of 4hrs 43minutes and 34seconds.